Universal keyboard



Feb. 10, 1970 R. HAYES ETAL UNIVERSAL KEYBOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 13, 1967 l?" ATTORNEYS S E VI A H MK .I R F. B 0 R LOUIS H. SEDARIS Feb. 10, 1970 Filed Jan. .13, 1967 R. K. HAYES ETAL UNIVERSAL KEYBOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.6

KEY OPERATED CHARACTER LATCHED BIT LINES AND CHARACTER SWITCH STROBE R SYSTEM SAMPLE BAIL MAGNET IKB RESET) BAIL FORWARD CONTACT KB INTERLDCK BALLS KB LOCK IBAILI TIME Ims) v 4DCPS 33CPS I0 I5 6-I2 V I I 43V L l l CIT-" LI 11 J I I United States Patent U.S. Cl. 235145 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A universal keyboard comprising a manual entry device capable of providing an increased number of keys which in combination with a diode matrix accommodates a variety of output codes without altering the electrical or mechanical loads and associated performance.

Background of the invention Prior art devices utilizing alpha-numerical keyboards were information bit limited and could not be expanded to provide an increase in information bits without seriously overloading the mechanism, both from a mechanical and electrical point of view. In prior alpha-numerical keyboard arrangements, the depression of a key would release a permutation bar which in turn would operate a bail to close a plurality of switches. The addition of even one or two keys would drastically modify the electrical and mechanical characteristics of the machine. For example, the addition, of a key would cause an increase in the amount of force necessary to release the permutation bar. Such an increase in force would change the touch of the keyboard, a factor which is very undesirable with respect to human factors, such as fatigue or efficiency.

Additional control keys, as distinguished from graphic keys, have been added to the prior art keyboards with the added keys directly operating their related control switches. With an arrangement such as this, it was extremely difficult to provide an identical touch for each key and there was no interlocking of the graphic and control keys.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard wherein every key, whether graphic or control, is constructed and operates in an identical manner. Such an arrangement enables a substantial reduction in the manufacturing costs since a greater uniformity of parts is achieved.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved switching arrangement utilizing a printed circuit board which enables a substantial reduction in the spacing between the various switches.

The present invention also provides a unique connection between the printed circuit board and the diode encode and output circuit card which enables the circuitry of the present invention to be efiiciently and compactly mounted with respect to the keyboard while still presenting an arrangement readily accessible for repairs or replacements.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an interlock between all the keys of the keyboard. The keyboard is actually provided with a dual interlock, one of which prevents simultaneous key lever depression and the other preventing the operation of any key in the absence of power to the machine.

Summary of the invention A universal keyboard comprising; frame means, a plurality of keys pivotally mounted on said frame, a plurality of spring-operated switches mounted on said frame, interposer means movably mounted on said frame in operative relation between said keys and said switches and normally ice maintaining said switches in open condition whereby upon depression of one of said keys, the interposer actuated thereby will be moved with respect to one of said switches enabling said switch to close, interlocking means associated with all of said keys to prevent simultaneous operation thereof and reset means adapted to return said interposer to its normal position.

Other features of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which disclose, by way of example, the principles of the invention and the best mode which has been contemplated of applying those principles.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the keyboard of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the keyboard shown in FIGURE 1 showing the interposer in its actuated position and its associated switch in the closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the interposer in its normal position and the associated switch member in the open position;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing the details of the diaphragm switch;

FIGURE 5 is a partial detailed view, partially broken away, of the key interlocking device, and

FIGURE 6 is a graph showing the timing relation of the various elements which make up the keyboard.

Turning now to FIGURE 1, the universal keyboard is designated generally by the numeral 10. The large group of keys, one of which is designated at 12, contain the various graphic keys and function keys such as would be found in a standard typewriter. The two smaller groups of keys, one key of each group being designated at 14 and 16, may be used to provide the necessary functions for the input of a particular data processing machine. A key feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the various keys may be arranged in an infinite number of patterns and there is no limit to the number of keys which may be employed in a single keyboard. For pu poses of illustration, the keyboard shown in FIGURE 1 is capable of providing up to 88 keys and is designed to accommodate a variety of output codes without altering the electromechanical loads and associated performance. When certain key positions are not required by the particular application or post device, vacated space can be effectively employed in the keyboard design to section ofi parts of the keyboard. It is also possible to allocate multiple key positions to certain commonly used functions, such as shift or carrier return.

The keyboard, as shown in FIGURE 1, is provided with a pair of end plates 18 and 20 which are connected together by a plurality of support members, such as the transverse member 22 shown at the front of the keyboard in FIGURE 1 and frame member 24 shown at the rear of the keyboard in FIGURE 2. Since each of the keys operate in an identical manner, it is only necessary to describe the operation of a single key, interposer, switch, and reset mechanism combination. Such a combination is shown in FIGURE 2 and the key 26 is shown as integrally secured to a key lever 28 which is pivoted to the frame member 24 at 30. A dobber 32 is pivotally secured to the key lever 28 and is spring-biased to its normal actuating position by means of a spring 34. An interposer bar 36 is pivoted to a rod 38 which extends through an elongated slot 40 in the right-hand end of the interposer bar, as viewed in FIGURE 2. The interposer bar is provided with an upstanding lllg or post 42 which is adapted to cooperate with the dobber 32 on the key lever 28. The extreme left end of the interposer bar 36 is provided with an upwardly and outwardly extending nose portion 44 which in the normal position of the inter- 3 poser, as shown in FIGURE .3, will bias the leaf spring 46 outwardly away from the frame member 24. The leaf spring 46 is the switch actuator and is secured to the frame 24 by any suitable means, such as riveting or the like. A single leaf spring is provided for cooperation with each interposer bar in the keyboard.

The interposer bar is also provided with a second upwardly and outwardly extending arm 48 which is adapted to cooperate with the interlock mechanism. The interlock mechanism is comprised of a channel-like member 50 secured to the frame member 24 by any suitable means. Channel member 50 is provided with a plurality of slots 52 (FIGURE through which the projections 48 may protrude. A plurality of balls 54 are disposed in the channel 50 and substantially fill the channel leaving room enough for only a single projection 48 to be inserted into the channel intermediate a pair of adjacent balls. Thus, in this way, it is impossible to simultaneously depress more than one key lever at a time and if one key lever is already depressed, the depression of a second key lever is rendered impossible. Secured to the upper end of the channel member 50 is a spring member 56. The opposite end of the spring member 56 is secured to a hook-like projection 58 on the interposer bar. The spring 56 functions to restore the interposer to its normal position after the operation of the reset bail, which operation will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

A reset bail 60 is provided directly below the end 44 of the interposer bar 36. The reset bail 60 is a single bar which extends across the entire width of the keyboard. A pair of magnets '62, only one of which is shown, are provided at each end of the reset bail to operate the reset bail. The magnets 62 are mounted on a suitable frame 64 which in turn may be secured to the frame of the machine in any desired manner. When the electromagnets 62 are energized, the bail 60 will be moved to the position shown in FIGURE 2 and when the magnets 62 are deenergized, the bail 60 is moved to the position shown in FIGURE 3 by means of the spring 66 secured between one end of the bail and the frame 64. The forward end of the interposer bar is provided with a notch-like arrangement designated by the numeral 68. When the bail 60 is sealed to the magnet 62, the upper laterally bent end 70 of the bail 60 will be in a position allowing the depression of the interposer bar 36 and the end 70 of the bail 60 will extend into the notch 68 in interposer bar 36. When the magnet 62 is not energized as shown in FIGURE 3, the springs 66 will position the upper end 70 of the bail 60 underneath the interposer bar, thus rendering the actuation of the interposer and the switch actuator 46 impossible. Thus, if no current is applied to the electromagnets 62, as would be the case when the power to the machine is shut oil, or if the operation of the machine is so programmed, the entire keyboard will be locked and the actuation of any key will be prevented.

As mentioned previously, with the bail 60 in its sealed position, an interposer bar 36 and its associated switch actuator maybe operated to the position shown in FIG- URE 2. To reset the interposer bar 36, the reset magnets 62 are de-energized for a short period of time allowing the spring 66 to drive the bail 60 to the right as viewed in FIGURE 2. The end 70 of the bail 60 will engage the notch 68 of the interposer bar 36 and move the interposer bar to the right, as shown by the horizontal arrow on the interposer bar. By this operation, the nose of the extension 44 is moved to the right of the switch actuator spring 46, thereby enabling the spring 56 to move the interposer bar upwardly and to the left as shown by the diagonal arrow in FIGURE 2. During this latter movement, the end of the projection 44 contacts the actuator spring 46 and moves the switch to the open position, as shown in FIGURE 3.

The diaphragm switching arrangement of the present invention is shown in detail in FIGURE 4. The diaphragm switching arrangement extends the entire length of the keyboard and is secured to the cross frame member 24 by any suitable means, such as adhesive or the like. The diaphragm switch is comprised of a substrate or base 72 upon which a plurality of contacts 73 have been deposited or secured by any other suitable means. The contacts extend in a row across the length of the support member 24 and each of the contacts is aligned with a dimple 74 formed in the leaf spring switch actuator 46. Overlying the substrate 72 is an apertured strip of material 76, such as Mylar or the like. A single aperture 78 is positioned over each contact on the substrate 72. Overlying the apertured separator strip 76, is a flexible strip of plastic material 80, such as Mylar or the like, upon which a plurality of interconnected contacts 81 are deposited or secured by any other suitable means. Each of the contacts overlies an aperture in the separator strip and is superimposed but spaced from the contacts on the substrate. A thin layer of rubber 82 or other resilient material may overlie the flexible contact strip to give the strip the desired elasticity and also to provide a wear surface where the dimple 74 on the actuator spring 46 contacts the flexible contact strip. When the actuator spring 46 is held outwardly away from the diaphragm switch assembly by means of the projection 44 on the interposer bar 36, as shown in FIGURE 3, the electrical contacts on the contact strip and the substrate will be separated by the thickness of the separator strip. When the interposer bar 36 is depressed downwardly upon actuation of a key, the actuator springs 46 move to the right as shown in FIGURE 1 and the dimple 7-4 will push the contact on the flexible contact strip through the aperture in the separator strip into contact with the contact on the substrate.

The flexible substrate 72 on which the contacts are deposited extends upwardly and over the top of the transverse frame member 24 and is connected to a diode matrix board 86. The conductors 84, as shown in FIG- URE 1, are integral extensions of the contacts 73 which underlie the apertures in the separator strip 76 and are connected to the contacts on the diode matrix board 86 by any suitable conventional means. A plurality of diodes 88 are secured to the circuitry on the board 86 and the leads 90 which carry the output signal to the machine to be controlled are also connected to the circuits on the board 86 by any suitable means. By utilizing the flexible substrate, it is possible to locate the diode matrix board 86 in a compact, flat, overlying position with respect to the keyboard. Since one half of the control switch is formed integral with the conductors 84, a large number of connections have been eliminated, thereby increasing the reliability of the keyboard.

Turning now to the operation of the universal keyboard, when the universal keyboard is up, the operating system is supplying the necessary voltage to the continuous duty reset magnets 62, thereby keeping the keyboard unlocked and operational. As mentioned previously, when the magnets 62 are energized, the reset bail 60 is in the position shown in FIGURE 2, which position will allow a key to be operated. Depression of a key lever pushes its related interposer 36 out of engagement with latch spring 46, allowing the spring 46 to move from the position shown in, FIGURE 3 to close a discrete electrical contact by means of the dimple 74 as shown in FIGURE 4, thereby providing an input to the diode encoding matrix.

Turning to the graph shown in FIGURE 6, we see that the operation of the various elements are plotted against time in milliseconds. The first line shows that when the key is operated and a character is latched, the timing cycle begins. The closure of the switch takes place within a few milliseconds of the latching of the interposer. The broken lines at the beginning of the second line of the graph shows that there may be approximately three milliseconds of contact bounce. However, there will be no skew on the bit lines of the sys tern since there is only one contact. In prior systems where a plurality of switches were actuated in sequence, the timing sequence of the switch operation often became mixed up causing skew on the bit lines. At this point, the keys are interlocked by the ball tube 50 and the bit lines can be sampled. Although there is a few milliseconds of contact bounce the strobe or system sample shown in the third line of the graph can take place immediately upon sensing the first contact since the circuit may be electronically latched when the first contact is made, thereby rendering subsequent contact bounce immaterial.

Immediately following the sampling, the voltage to the reset magnets is terminated, as shown in the fourth line of the graph. The de-energization of the magnets allows the reset bail 60, under spring control 66, to restore the interposer, key lever contact and associated bit lines. The dropout time for the magnet (and hail) is 14- 16 milliseconds. When the reset bail 60 has almost reached its forward position, as shown in FIGURE 3, the bail forward switch (not shown) is closed. The bail forward contact is closed 13-15 milliseconds after the initiation of the cycle, as shown by the first group of dashed lines in the first line of the graph. The closure of the bail forward switch requests voltage for the bail magnets 62. The pick to seal time for the magnets is approximately 13 milliseconds. If the keyboard was required to be locked at this time, the reset magnets would not be picked, thereby allowing the bail to interfere with the subsequent operation of any key lever.

With the energization of the bail magnets 62, and just prior to sealing the armature, an end of cycle contact (not shown) is opened by the bail 60. This contact establishes the minimum time cycle of 2427 milliseconds for the universal keyboard and is primarily required for the typematic feature. Typematic is a repeat function for such characters as space, back space and underline. The typematic function is accomplished by applying an additional incremental force on the selected typematic key which introduces a constraint to the interposer maintaining it in a latched position relative to the latch spring. This results in a non-interrupted contact closure, the cycle time of which is established b interruption of the cycle contact by the reset bail.

The last two lines of the graph show the timing relationship between the keyboard interlock balls and the keyboard lock as caused by the bail 60 being in the position shown in FIGURE 3.

By providing a time cycle for the operation of a single character which is within the range of 25 milliseconds, it is possible to operate the machine at 40 characters per second.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A universal keyboard comprising a frame, a plurality of key levers pivoted on said frame, a plurality of spring-operated switches mounted on said frame, interposer means movably mounted on said frame in operative relation between each of said key levers and each of said switches, said interposer means normally contacting said spring operated switches to maintain said switches in open condition whereby upon depression of one of said key levers the interposer associated therewith will be moved out of engagement with respect to its associated switch enabling said switch to close, interlocking means associated with each of said interposers to prevent simultaneous operation thereof and reset means adapted to return said interposer to its normal position, said reset means is comprised of an elongated bail common to each interposer and normally disposed in blocking relation with respect to said interposer to prevent operation thereof, electromagnetic means for moving said bail to a nonblocking position to allow movement of an interposer to a position enabling said switch associated with said interposer to be closed and spring means for restoring said bail and said interposer to said normal position.

2. A universal keyboard comprising a frame, a plurality of key levers pivoted on said frame; a plurality of spring-operated switches mounted on said frame, interposer means movably mounted on said frame in operative relation between each of said key levers and each of said switches, said interposer means normally contacting said spring operated switches to maintain said switches in open condition whereby upon depression of one of said key levers the interposer associated therewith will be moved out of engagement with respect to its associated switch enabling said switch to close, interlocking means associated with each of said interposers to prevent simultaneous operation thereof and reset means adapted to return said interposer to its normal position, said switches are comprised of a first elongated substrate mounted on said frame and having a plurality of first contact means thereon, spacer means substantially coextensive with and superimposed on said substrate and provided with a plurality of apertures therethrough each of which is aligned with one of said first contact means, flexible resilient strip means substantially coextensive with and superimposed on said spacer means and having a plurality of second contact means electrically interconnected and aligned with a respective aperture in said spacer means, a plurality of individual contact operating means each of which is secured to said frame in overlying relation to said first and second contact means and adapted to push its respective second contact means through an aperture into contact with a first contact means.

3. A universal keyboard as set forth in claim 2 where in each of said contact operating means is comprised of a leaf spring having a projection thereon in alignment with said contact means, said leaf spring normally being disposed in contact with one of said interposers to bias said leaf spring projection away from said contacts.

4. A universal keyboard as set forth in claim 2 wherein said substrate is a flexible sheet of material and said first contact means are comprised of a plurality of conductive strips of material deposited on said substrate.

5. A universal keyboard as set forth in claim 4 further comprising a diode matrix board having a plurality of circuits thereon connected to said conductive strips on said flexible substrate and output means connected to said circuits.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,654,812 10/1953 Cunningham et al. 200-18 3,386,650 6/1968 Hildebrandt et al. 234123 3,133,167 5/1964 Miller 20061.43

FOREIGN PATENTS 11/ 1949 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES STEPHEN J. TOMSKY, Primary Examiner U .8. Cl. X.R. 235-61 

